The piteous sobs that choke the Virgin's breath For him, the fair betrothed Youth, who lies Cold in the narrow dwelling, or the cries With which a Mother wails her darling's death, These from our nature's common impulse spring, Unblam'd, unprais'd; but o'er the piled earth Which hides the sheeted corse of grey-hair'd Worth, If droops the soaring Youth with slacken'd wing; If he recall in saddest minstrelsy Each tenderness bestow'd, each truth imprest, Such grief is Reason, Virtue, Piety! And from the Almighty Father shall descend Comforts on his late evening, whose young breast Mourns with no transient love the Aged Friend. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GRASS FINGERS by ANGELINA WELD GRIMKE PIED BEAUTY by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS TO NIGHT by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: JUNE by EDMUND SPENSER OLD SARUM; LINES ON THE CONFERENCE OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH AT SALISBURY by ALICE COLBURN BEAL |